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HomeAmateur Sports

Amateur Sports

Amateur Sports

South Philadelphia: Inclusive Rugby Team Strives to Defy Stereotypes while Staying Competitive

December 16, 2016 Benjamin A McWilliams

In the summer of 2003, Joe Cruz showed up to rugby practice for the newly-formed Philadelphia Gryphons. The University of Pennsylvania grad was one of seven people at practice. The Gryphons started as an idea,

Amateur Sports

South Philadelphia: Bocce League Preserves Italian Tradition

December 7, 2016 Timothy Edward Merrick

Growing up in South Philadelphia, Larry Del Spechio spent a lot of time around bocce courts. He hardly played, though. “When we were young, we couldn’t play because the old guys didn’t want you to,”

Amateur Sports

Olney: Coaches Teach Young Players More Than Just Football

December 5, 2016 Phylandra Anne McFaddin

The youths of Philadelphia are growing up in dangerous times. The city’s 2013 Youth Violence Prevention Plan states that, “Over the past six years, 5,051 young Philadelphians ages 14 to 24 have been shot or killed.” The

Amateur Sports

South Philadelphia: Karate Instructor Builds Confidence Through Discipline

November 29, 2016 Timothy Edward Merrick

Jason Helmer’s passion for martial arts came from an unusual place. “I was in high school working and one of the mailmen in the neighborhood mentioned karate,” Helmer said. “I was a big Steven Seagal

Amateur Sports

Washington Square West: Pickleball Craze in Seger Park

November 28, 2016 Benjamin A McWilliams

It was a year-and-a-half ago that Andrew Freedman and his wife Nancy were watching the evening news when a story about “the world’s fastest growing sport” piqued their interest. It was not long before the Freedman’s,

Amateur Sports

Kensington: Timoteo League Coaches Leading Players in Positive Direction

November 22, 2016 Connor Northrup

Timoteo continues to grow. The Timoteo Flag Football League began in 2005 when three churches decided to create an outlet where the youth of Philadelphia could learn leadership skills. The three churches, Bethel Temple, Light

Amateur Sports

Bella Vista: Fearless Athletics Takes The Fear Out of CrossFit

November 21, 2016 Christopher Aaron Abruzzo

As of 2013, nearly two out of three Philadelphia adults are either overweight or obese, according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s roughly a million Philadelphians. Many factors contribute to

Amateur Sports

South Philadelphia: Local Rec Centers Adjust to Election Day Schedule

November 8, 2016 Benjamin A McWilliams

Election day is huge for Philadelphia. With more than one million registered voters in the city, one of the crucial tasks for the City Commissioners office is finding locations for the polling places. Finding sites

Amateur Sports

Juniata Park: MVP360 Offers More Than Just Sports

November 4, 2016 Ashley Nicole Portillo

Lighthouse Field is home of the Philadelphia Eagles. No, not the Eagles you’re probably thinking of, but the Eagles flag football team. Find yourself at the field on a Saturday and you may have a

Amateur Sports

Hunting Park: Mentor Uses Education and Squash Experience To Enrich Youth

November 3, 2016 Ashley Nicole Portillo

Scott Redpath is the program director of SquashSmarts located at the Lenfest Center on 10th and Pike Streets. Since graduating from St. Lawrence University in 2009, the Philly native has been mentoring students both in

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